Peer Support Apprentice (Care experienced) West Nottinghamshire College

What you will do in your working day

The Care Experienced Peer Mentor Apprentice is dedicated to developing the personal, social, and educational growth of the colleges Care Experienced students by creating opportunities for their active participation in current issues and decision-making processes. They work closely with individuals and groups, using peer-based approaches to support students in achieving self-defined goals. By drawing on their own experiences of overcoming challenges and accessing resources, Peer Mentors facilitate a trauma-informed, experiential sharing process that helps students navigate life changes and rebuild trust with various services.

In their role, Peer Mentors provide direct support to individuals, helping them understand their circumstances and move forward by modelling skills, signposting resources, and promoting self-advocacy. They create a safe and trusting environment for honest dialogue, where diverse experiences can be shared, and new perspectives considered. Using their lived experiences, Peer Mentors offer purposeful disclosures to demonstrate self-help and self-management techniques, complementing the care and support plans provided by other services and agencies.

Peer Mentors operate within a Care Experience Team, reporting to a Welfare Manager and participates in both individual and group peer supervision to refine their approach. This supervision helps them address mutuality, equality, ethical dilemmas, and power dynamics. They aim to empower individuals by promoting self-determination and connecting them to community resources. Through intentional support and practical assistance, Peer Mentors enhance individuals' sense of control and community engagement, ensuring their needs and interests are effectively met.

a) Establish safe, supportive and respectful relationships with individuals, carers and families.
b) Safely discloses personal experiences with individuals and models self-help and self-management skills
c) Use co-production and lived experience to support individuals and groups to identify and work toward their self-defined goals.
d) Empower individuals to self-advocate and understand their rights and choices.
e) Identify, facilitate access to or signpost resources within the service and communities that promote choice, informed decision making and are aligned to personal goals.
f) Represent and promote peer support within development activities and service development.
g) Work as part of the team and contribute to service improvement.
h) Maintain their peer perspective by using personal development and supervision to reflect on the role.
i) Maintain the safety of themselves and others and encourage positive risk taking putting the best interests, needs and preferences of the individual first.
j) Communicates effectively with individuals, colleagues, and other services in the context of peer support and provides feedback to individuals.
k) To keep clear and concise records of all meetings and group session and to write any other reports. Ensure that the recording of meetings/interventions is input onto the college system in a timely manner.

l) To use IT systems to produce reports, often to tight timescales, using word processing and record information including statistical data.
m) To work on initiatives which raise the awareness of college staff, parents and the community on the importance of student attendance.
n) Have the ability to build positive and sustainable relationships with students by using the core principals of youth work (participation, understanding of others and exploring values and beliefs).

The training you will be getting

Level 3 peer Worker apprenticeship standard.

This is a work-based programme which means that predominantly, your learning will take place on the site of your employment and within your contracted working hours.

We host supporting workshops regularly throughout the apprenticeship which you will attend in person at our Derby Road campus. These workshops are carefully designed to support the learning required throughout the apprenticeship programme.

• You will work with expert assessors to develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours within the profession
• You will experience a blended learning model
• You will gather learning evidence, journals and off-the-job records using your e-portfolio

At the end of the planned learning period, it will be agreed by all parties that you are ready to enter 'Gateway' and for your End-Point Assessment to be arranged.

What to expect at the end of your apprenticeship

The progression from the apprenticeship would be longevity within the business looking to work towards future qualifications to join the business as a highly skilled and knowledgeable member of the team.